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Jeff
Pilson a musician , composer , producer and actor , was
distinguished in the whole world , offering an incredible legacy to
us with Dokken Band . Then he delighted us with his excellent works
with Dio , George Lynch , MSG and actually with War & Peace . In
his discography there are more than 40 records with a lot of bands .
We saw him in a very good performance in the film Rockstar(Warner)
.Jeff Pilson is a part of the rocknroll’s History . Check here
what he told us .
Rockum - Your last album with War & Peace called "The
Walls Have Eyes" ( we cant find it in southamerica ) It was
written by you in almost the totality , with exception of
Desperate hearts ( Jason Bonham ) . Don't you think that your fans
will love someday to see an album just with your own name ?
JP: Maybe someday I’ll do that, but for now I like
using War and Peace as my melodic rock project/band. The other thing
is I hope to do some touring as War and Peace, and the live group I
have together are definitely a BAND!!
Rockum - Your friendship with Jason Bonham comes
from a lot of years. Perhaps to have shared scenes in the film "Rock
star"
( Warner bros ), even fortified those bonds?
Yes, Jason and I really enjoy working together. In
fact we’re playing a show with Foreigner in a few weeks (a charity
event)- that will be fun.
Rockum - I like too much the film
Rock star” but
not much the end of the film cause Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg )
showed that hard rock of 80s was without sense and drained. If you
could write the movie again. What part would you change ?
JP: I would have had a lot more scenes with the bass
player from Steel Dragon!! No seriously, I enjoyed the way it was
written. Even though I don’t think 80’s metal bands were useless, I
do think the sound of metal became too light and commercial. All the
late 80’s/early 90’s metal bands started to sound the same. Maybe I
would have made that clearer in the film.
Rockum - Jeff , if there is a thing that this film
showed to us was that you make a fabulous team with Bonham and
Zakk Wylde . Would you like to make someday a project with them ?
JP: Absolutely. I would love to see that happen
someday.
Rockum - Congratulations to you and Ravinder for
your daughter Olivia . What do you feel to be a father ?
JP: Tired from no sleep!! No, it’s been a beautiful
experience. Having a child really puts your priorities in order.
Rockum - I think you are taking sometime to
accompany Ravinder and Olivia , until September that begins your
tour to Europe ( Z records ) . What expectations do you have for
this Tour?
JP: I just hope as many people as possible can see
this band live- it’s so strong. I’m really looking forward to just
getting out there and re-connecting with fans. It’s been 4 years
since I’ve toured. No other big expectations, really.
Rockum - We know that you are a very good friend of
Ronnie James Dio and he invited you to participate in the
recording of his new Album “ Master Of the moon “ What can you
tell us about it ?
JP: It’s a GREAT Dio record. The songs are amazing
and, though I haven’t heard the final mixes, it has some masterpiece
moments on it.
Lynch/ Pilson ( Wicked underground ) we felt a great
chemistry between you and George like the old times . How was the
process of creation of that Album?
JP: It was great- very comfortable and productive.
George and I love working together, it’s like it only gets better
with time. We hadn’t worked together in years, but in so many ways
it felt like only a day had gone ny since we had. We’ve always had
that chemistry.
Rockum - You were working with Clear Static in the
production of its Album, and also something with Revis (Epic),
Which is your opinion about the actually rock musical scene ?
JP: I think there are starting to be some real
interesting movements out there. I love heavy music, but I’m glad to
see that so much melody is coming out from so many young bands. I’d
still love to hear a young band combine heaviness with a real keen
melodic sense. That would be fresh.
Rockum - Tooth & Nail, Under Lock and Key, for Back
the Attack (Elektra) were one of the most powerful musical trilogies
in the history of the metal albums of all the times. How did you
make to create so many good songs in those days?
JP: We worked our asses off. George and I were
constantly writing. We’d take a mobile studio on the road with us so
we could write in the hotel room every night (well, almost every
night!). It got more sophisticated every tour, but a fair chunk of
Tooth and Nail’s music came from the Breakin the Chains tour, a lot
of Under Lock and Key from the Tooth and Nail tour, and also a lot
of BFTA from the UL and K tour. We’d also go home and all of us
would write like crazy. We were very determined.
Rockum - Which was your best tour and Album with
Dokken ?
The 2 best tours were the Dio tour of 84-85 and the
Aerosmith
tour of 87-88. Dio was such a learning experience for us and we had
so much fun as well. Both bands and crews got along amazingly well,
and we blossomed as a live band on that tour. Then with Aerosmith- I
think that was our peak as a live band. I’ve seen bootlegs from that
era, and we were very strong. Don sang his ass off on that tour.
Plus it was the peak of our popularity, so all the other things
surrounding the band were at their peak as well, if you know what I
mean! Best album? That’s a tough one. In some ways I think Tooth and
Nail has aged the most gracefully. It still has a rawness that
works. Under Lock and Key was very strong for its time, and there
are a lot of great songs on that one, but the album sounds too
over-polished when I hear it now.
Rockum - In the highest successful moment of Dokken
1988 , came the rupture of the band . Would you think the excess of
fame and the mixture of egos was the reason for the separation?
JP: Egos, pure and simple. The vibe around the band
in the later days was real bad, but ironically Don announced he was
leaving on the Aerosmith tour, which was when we were getting along
better than ever. Once he said he wanted to leave, the vibe became
forever hopeless.
Rockum - Dokken sold Millions of Albums , great
tours , MTV charts , awards in all the world and to be part of the
history of rocknroll forever . How would you describe that
experience in one single phrase?
JP: Fun fortunes for four fuck-ups!!!
Rockum - Which will be your advice for a young
musician?
JP: Follow your heart- eternally. Listen to advice
and those you trust, but ALWAYS trust your own instincts first. If
your gut tells you something- listen and act!
Rockum - Do you know South America?
JP: Love it. Toured there with Dio in 97.
Rockum - Do you know anything about Peru?
JP:Not really, except some historical info. I’m
really into ancient history and civilizations, and Peru has some of
the most intriguing ancient civilizations.
Rockum - What would you say to your fans in Peru and
South America that read this interview in Rockum?
JP:That I hope they get to hear the new War and
Peace. It’s a work I’m extremely proud of. To get it in SA, I think
you’ll have to get it through my website, at
www.jeffpilson.com. But
I think they’ll find it well worth it. Then I want to say thank you
for all the years of support and that I hope W&P can tour SA someday
relatively soon- and see you there!!
Rockum -Thank you Jeff
JP: Thank you. Take care.
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